Category Archives: Leadership

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Principles to a Successful Army Career

A Command Sergeant's Major Perspective

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Command Sgt. Maj. Scott Schroeder, U.S. Army Forces Command senior enlisted adviser, discusses trends and priorities for Army leaders, and gets feedback from 1st Cavalry Division enlisted leaders during an open forum at Howze Auditorium Dec. 8 at Fort Hood, Texas. Schroeder, who served as the III Corps and Fort Hood senior enlisted adviser from September 2012 to June 2014, discussed FORSCOM priorities and topics with leaders, including improving readiness, equipping the force, training, operationalizing the total Army, sponsorship, career progression and development, family care plans and many other topics. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Keith Anderson, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs, 1st Cavalry Division) (Photo Credit: Staff Sgt. Keith Anderson)

Military service is a unique profession that less than one percent of our nation answer the noble call to serve their country. Some are motivated to join based on a relative that served or something more profound such as, answering a higher calling. In the quest to serve, some will make a career of their service while others will only commit to their first term obligation. Whether they decide to make it a long-term profession, or move on after a few years, one should aim to have a successful career serving their country. While there’s no exact recipe or secret to a successful Army career, it takes dedication and sacrifice to ultimately achieve success.

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Reviewing Cowboys Over Iraq

A Conversation with the Author, Jimmy Blackmon

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Experiences shape people and training is a form of experience. It prepares us for the rigors of war. But we can’t fully comprehend the hardships that combat brings until we are in it. War is an experience unlike any other. Thankfully, we aren’t bound to our own experiences. Leaders can, and should, learn from the experiences of others. Former Secretary of Defense, Jim Mattis once said that, “[people] have been fighting on this planet for 5000 years and we should take advantage of their experience.” Col. Retired Jimmy Blackmon once again contributes to that grand tradition of storytelling and gifts us his experiences. His new book, Cowboys Over Iraq, is gritty, honest, and high-energy.

Cowboys Over Iraq is an amazing story of leadership, innovation, initiative, and brotherhood.
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2019 in Books

A Personally Curated Review of 85 Books

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My goal for this year was to read/listen to 100 books. Spoiler…I fell short of that goal. But it was a successful year of reading nonetheless. Studies show that tracking our progress and metrics helps to accomplish our goals. Tracking my own reading helps me in many ways that I discuss below. By sharing these books, I hope to provide some useful recommendations to others as well as gain more insights into my own reading plan to guide my 2020 reading goals. Without further adieu, here is my 2019 in books–a Reading List that includes a Top 10 list for your stocking or a nice gift for someone you love.

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Making the Leap

A Letter to Me as a Promotable Captain

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Congratulations on your promotion to the field grade ranks in the U.S. Army. The Army values your demonstrated ability and your observed potential to continue the mission of fighting and winning our nation’s wars. More so, your promotion to major is a testament to the soldiers, NCOs, and fellow officers with whom you’ve served. It’s recognition of their endless dedication and your leadership. But there are some things you need to remember as you move forward. This letter serves as a reminder to stay grounded – as much as things change, some lessons are timeless.

Gen. Michael X. Garrett, FORSCOM Commander, visited the 3rd Cavalry Regiment out in ‘The Box’ while at the National Training Center. While on site he engaged with senior leaders and troopers discussing lessons learned during the rotation.
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Abandon Perfection

A Practitioner's Guide to Mission Command

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Mission Command doctrine empowers subordinate leaders and facilitates mission success. The Irish Defence Forces employs Mission Command doctrine and senior leadership encourage its practice, but not all leaders in the Irish Army embrace the concept. To fully operationalise Mission Command at the tactical-level, commanders need to engage and empower junior Irish Army leaders, particularly NCOs. The successful implementation of Mission Command requires those with the most to lose to do the unthinkable: abandon perfection.

Stepping it out, Marines with 7th Marine Regiment conduct a ruck march. @1st_Marine_Div conduct a hike on Camp Wilson. Photo courtesy of @combatcenterPAO and @USMC.
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Echo Chambers and Loud Speakers

A Reflection on #AUSADigital2019

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On the heels of a very successful #AUSADigital2019 event, I have been reflecting on the ways we as a #MilTwitter community can be better. Occupying that mental space, and enjoying a cup of coffee, I read a recent blog post from a close family-friend (@awktravels). She nailed it! Reading her thoughts on diversifying media, got me thinking about our own accountability, candor, and “outrage.”

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ACFT Calculator & Tracker

A New Systems Tool on The Rucksack

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With the introduction of the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT), tracking the performance of our soldiers has become even more important in tailoring our unit physical training plans.  With proper analysis we will be able to identify weak spots in our PT plans and strengthen them.  Although this was possible with the APFT, with only three events, it was harder to identify trends.

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Daniel R. Walrath, commanding general of U.S. Army South, performs the three repetition maximum deadlift during an Army Combat Fitness Test on Joint Base San Antonio – Fort Sam Houston, Texas, Jan. 24, 2021. The Army Combat Fitness Test will better connect fitness with combat readiness for all Soldiers. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Joshua Taeckens)
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The OSUT Platoon Leader Experience

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I was a few weeks away from conducting my PCS move out of IBOLC when the 2-11 IN team notified us about the opportunity to serve as One-Station Unit Training (OSUT) Platoon Leaders. My initial reactions were the same as everyone else’s: negative. I came across an Army Times article articulating the reasoning behind integrating Platoon Leaders into OSUT. While my opinion of this assignment was not dramatically changed, the article did pique my interest and curiosity about the role of a Platoon Leader in the OSUT environment. After some consideration, I decided I couldn’t pass up this unique opportunity to shape a new duty position in the Army.

A Soldier leaps over an obstacle during the Army Best Medic Competition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., Sept. 24, 2019. Twenty-eight two-Soldier teams from all around the world traveled to Washington state to compete in the finals to be named the Army’s Best Medic. The competition is a 72-hour arduous test of the teams’ physical and mental skills. (U.S. Army photo by John Wayne Liston)
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Tactical Implications of Strategic Shortfalls

An Interview with Lt. Col. Gallagher

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In the post-World War II era, the United States has enjoyed a near faultless tactical dominance and overmatch against its enemies. And yet, in that time we have, at perhaps equal rate, failed to “win the peace” in the post-war/kinetic environment. In the Post 9/11 era this has become status quo, a constant in U.S. combat operations. The shift from Afghanistan in 2003, “Mission Accomplished” in Iraq, and a whole host of other U.S. incursions overseas have left many scratching their heads. How can a global superpower win so spectacularly at the tactical-level and yet come-up short so often in the strategic ends? That is exactly what Lt. Col. Brendan Gallagher set out to discover in his recent book, The Day After: Why America Wins the War but Loses the Peace.

U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to 1st Battalion 252nd Armor, North Carolina Army National Guard, scan for targets on July 16, 2019. (Photo by Pfc. Brooke Davis)
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The Dangers of Mirror Mentoring

A Response to "October Baseball"

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We are in a daily…scratch that…a moment-to-moment fight against our biases. They blur our sight-picture and color our perceptions. This is especially true in our mentorship of junior NCOs and officers. It’s human nature to build a picture of success that is predicated on our own experiences and views. It’s even more prevalent among successful leaders who believe they got where they are by doing what they’ve done. In “October Baseball,” a recent post on The Field Grade Leader, Major Jim Plutt provides some insightful advice on the development of captains and the transition to major. His point about broadening assignments provides a lens through which to assess the dangers of the Mirror Bias when mentoring our leaders.

Army Sgt. Forrest Layton applies face paint before a training event at Bemowo Piskie Training Area, Poland, Nov. 14, 2018, during NATO joint training exercise Anakonda.